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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership shares subscription benefits with up to seven other accounts; it does not share separately purchased games. To lend an eligible digital game, use Virtual Game Cards and lend the card to someone in your Nintendo Account family group. The loan lasts up to 14 days, and the lender cannot play that game while it is lent.
What does a Switch family plan actually share?
Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership lets one account share membership benefits with up to seven other members—eight accounts total. Those benefits include online play and access to classic game libraries, depending on the membership. A game bought separately through Nintendo eShop remains tied to the Nintendo Account that purchased it; the membership alone does not make that game available to everyone in the family group. Nintendo’s Family Membership page describes the shared service benefits.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
How to lend an eligible digital game
Nintendo treats digital games and DLC purchased through eShop as Virtual Game Cards on the console. To lend a game, both the lender and borrower need Nintendo Accounts in the same family group. The borrower’s account must also be linked to a user on the receiving console. The consoles need to be close together and connected to the internet to arrange the lending transaction.
- On the console with the game, open the Virtual Game Cards feature and select the card you want to lend.
- Choose the family-group member who will receive it, then complete the lending steps shown on the console.
- The recipient can load the borrowed card on their console and play while the loan is active.
Nintendo’s Virtual Game Card Guide says some games cannot be lent, including some Nintendo Switch Online member-exclusive games. Check the game’s eligibility if the lending option is unavailable.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
How long lending lasts and who can play
A loan lasts up to 14 days. The borrower can return the card early, and the lender may retrieve it early under the conditions in Nintendo’s guide. While the card is lent out, the lender cannot play that game. Nintendo’s North American guide also sets these limits:
- An account can lend up to three Virtual Game Cards at once.
- A borrower can borrow one card at a time.
- A console can receive only one borrowed card at a time.
Choose the right sharing method
| What you want to share | How it works | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Online benefits | Add up to seven other accounts to the Family Membership. | Does not grant access to separately purchased games. |
| An eligible digital purchase with someone on another console | Lend its Virtual Game Card to a member of your Nintendo Account family group. | Consoles must be nearby and online to arrange the loan; the lender cannot play while it is lent, and access lasts up to 14 days. |
| A digital purchase for other users on the same console | Load the Virtual Game Card on that console; other users there can play it. | Nintendo says one account can have up to two consoles that load its Virtual Game Cards. |
| A physical game | Insert the game card into the console where it will be played. | The cartridge must be in that console during play. |
These routes are not interchangeable. Loading a card on a shared console is useful when players use the same system; lending is for a temporary loan to a family-group member using another console. A physical copy is played by moving the cartridge between consoles.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
Switch and Switch 2 compatibility
Compatible Virtual Game Cards can be lent between family-group members using Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Compatibility still depends on the individual game: a Switch 2-exclusive game cannot be played on a Nintendo Switch. Nintendo also offers GameShare, initiated from a Switch 2, but it is a separate feature with its own compatibility rules. See Nintendo’s Virtual Game Cards and GameShare information and check the specific title and console before relying on cross-generation play.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Game access does not transfer save data
Lending or loading a Virtual Game Card provides access to the game; it does not promise to move the lender’s save data to another player or console. Save data is handled separately through Nintendo’s transfer options or, for supported games and memberships, Save Data Cloud. Consult Nintendo’s save-data transfer and cloud guidance for the applicable process.
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Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
Rank #3
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
